UCSF GLOBAL HEALTH FELLOWSHIP

Training and Mentorship

UCSF offers a broad educational experience for our fellows. For fellows who do not already have a Master’s degree, we offer a Master of Science in Global Health through the UCSF Institute for Global Health Sciences (IGHS) that is fully funded by the Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM). Didactic sessions for the Master’s program will occur during the first year of fellowship, allowing the fellow to complete the bulk of his/her field work during the second year. This experience gives fellows access to the faculty and resources of the IGHS for a broader view of the global health landscape. Fellows who already have a Master’s degree and elect to do a one-year fellowship have the opportunity to participate in the optional UCSF IGHS Global Health Pathways program—a certificate program for healthcare providers that provides a comprehensive lecture series covering a wide variety of topics in Global Health. Fellows may also attend lectures and seminars at IGHS that align with their interests. Within the DEM, the global health fellow will be guided and mentored by our 13 Global Health Faculty and will have quarterly mentorship meetings with the fellowship director. 

The fellow will have the opportunity to mentor residents participating in the Global Health Area of Distinction program for the UCSF DEM Residency and also have the opportunity to participate in lectures and conferences in the UCSF DEM and UCSF community as a whole. The fellow will attend the UCSF Building a Career in Global Health CME course held every year. The fellow will also work closely with the Directors of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Emergency and Trauma Care based in the UCSF DEM. As the only Collaborating Centre for comprehensive emergency care in the world, fellows have a unique opportunity to work on projects in both the US and at WHO Headquarters in Geneva to help improve and strengthen emergency care systems worldwide (if application accepted). Fellows will participate in grant writing and development, project design, and implementation. 

One of the primary benefits of a global health fellowship lies in building the contacts and relationships to support future work. UCSF faculty are well-connected and the UCSF Global Health Fellowship offers an abundance of networking opportunities with: 

International

Fellows who are participating in the Master’s degree program will have the opportunity to spend 6 months abroad during the 2-year fellowship. Fellows who currently hold an advanced degree in global or public health can spend up to 4 months abroad during the 1-year fellowship.

This fellowship is targeted towards mature fellows who have some experience in global health and are looking to expand their knowledge and experience in emergency care systems development, policy development, and capacity-building. Fellows have the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time working at WHO Headquarters in Geneva (pending application approval) on the development of tools to strengthen emergency care systems across the globe.

Additionally, the UCSF DEM has been supporting the development of emergency care training in Tanzania and Uganda for several years at Muhimbili University for Health and Allied Sciences and Makerere University, respectively. Fellows have the opportunity to work at one or both of these sites supporting local capacity building as well as helping to implement WHO tools.

Fellows will also attend the African Federation for Emergency Medicine Conference during years that conference occurs and the International Federation for Emergency Medicine Conference when AFCEM does not occur. Conference registration and travel will be covered by the DEM.

Clinical

While in San Francisco, the fellow receives a Clinical Instructor of Emergency Medicine appointment at UCSF and will work clinically at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, the only Level 1 Trauma Center in San Francisco. With an ED capacity of 58 beds, 6 trauma bays, and 2 CT scanners in the department, ZSFG provides care for a catchment area of approximately 1.5 million inhabitants of San Francisco and the North Bay Area and serves as the “Safety Net” hospital for San Francisco’s most vulnerable patients. The ED sees over 75,000 patients per year (over 4,500 of those are trauma patients). Additionally, ZSFG is the only hospital in the Bay Area that provides 24-hour Psychiatric Emergency Services.

San Francisco has a robust public health system, with a city-wide insurance plan to help move towards universal coverage (Healthy San Francisco).  We are a sanctuary city and boast an extensive network of social services that helps provide high quality care to all patients, regardless of socioeconomic status, immigration status, race, or sexual orientation.

The fellow will supervise and teach residents and medical students during shifts and is encouraged to attend residency conference and departmental events. In addition, ZSFG serves as the base hospital for the San Francisco EMS services and interested fellows can also interface with the EMS and disaster systems in the city. The fellow will work 768 hours per year (approximately 8 shifts per month that can be adjusted for travel).

Comprehensive Benefits

Fellows receive a competitive salary benchmarked at the PGY 5 level that includes an approximately $12,000 annual housing stipend. Reduced-rate campus housing is also available. Additionally, fellows have access to a $5,000 per year CME fund to help cover expenses while working on projects, 4 weeks of vacation included in the hours calculation, and full benefits, including a retirement program, health insurance (medical, dental, vision), life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and disability insurance. For more information, please visit the UCSF GME Office’s Benefits Website.  The Master of Science in Global Health degree tuition costs, one conference per year (AFEM/IFEM), and the required courses (see “Curriculum” below) are also covered by the DEM.

The fellowship begins on July 1st and lasts 2 years.  Fellows who do not already have an advanced degree in public health will enroll in the Institute for Global Health Science’s Master of Science in Global Health. During the first year of fellowship the fellow will split time between their coursework and clinical shifts in the ED and may travel for projects during breaks in coursework. The bulk of travel will occur during the second year when the fellow will complete the bulk of his/her fieldwork and will split time between travel, projects, and clinical shifts. Fellows who currently hold an advanced degree in global or public health will participate in the Global Health Pathways program through the Institute for Global Health Sciences and can choose to spend more time abroad, pursue other short certification courses or  shorten the fellowship to 1 year.

While in the US, fellows will participate in a robust global health curriculum aimed at delivering an overview of the various aspects of Global Health and Global Emergency Care. Fieldwork consists primarily of emergency care systems development, advocacy and policy work, capacity-building and education in low-resource settings.

The fellow is expected to take the lead on a scholarly project and produce at least one scholarly work. S/he will also be involved in participating in WHO Collaborating Centre activities, grant writing, and mentoring resident projects.

In addition to the international conferences listed above, fellows will participate in the following courses during the fellowship: 

The cost of attending these courses will be covered by the Department of Emergency Medicine.

Current Fellows
Robert Orynich, MD